Water in the header tank

PRESCOTT'S

MEMBER
2005 VOLKSWAGEN
1.9L
4 CYL
FWD
MANUAL
140,000 MILES

Good morning USA this is England calling. I have been watching you on YouTube with a problem. I am having a problem with the water in the header tank it sometimes drains away but when you take off the header cap the water comes back some times the water does not then I have to put about a cup full back in. On YouTube I have watched you talking about head gasket problems. I have had all the tests done by different mechanics. I am now going down the test of the EGR cooler leaking what do you think?
Many thanks for reading this I know it is better if the car is in front of you.

3 Replies

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

G'Day England from Australia. Yes we are international you could say international rescue for car owners. Anyway on with your problem, start with a cooling system pressure test this will help locate any minor external coolant leaks, a leaking EGR cooler will show the same symptoms of a cracked head rough idle, coolant loss white smoke, the best way to test for a leaking cooler is to do the cooling system pressure test and back off the EGR pipe at the cooler to see if any coolant leaks out (engine not running) start here and let me know what you find.

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Wednesday, September 21st, 2016 AT 5:11 AM

PRESCOTT'S

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Hi have had a pressure test done and it held its pressure I found a bottom hose that was close to bursting because it was rubbing so replace it. I've checked the water before my wife went to work all ok she got bout 10 miles from home then the water coolant light came on which means the water in the header tank had dropped. But when she opened the cap on the header tank the water came back in the header tank as it was before she set off to work.

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Monday, September 26th, 2016 AT 12:25 AM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,513 POSTS

The coolant is going somewhere, it sound like you have a head gasket leak. Can you please do this test and get back to us?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Please let us know what you find so it will help others.

Best, Ken

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Tuesday, September 27th, 2016 AT 8:08 PM